The Luxury Hybrid that Darth Vader Might Drive
A review of the 2021 Lexus Hybrid IS 300h
Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota and is marketed in more than 70 countries and territories worldwide. It is, by far, Japan’s largest-selling make of luxury cars. The Lexus IS has been around since 1999, in one form or another. Toyota first introduced it as an entry-level sport model and the “IS” in its name stands for “Intelligent Sport.”
In keeping with the world’s green focus of today, the car is now available in a hybrid version, the IS 300h. The sedan comes in two variants, the Luxury and the F Sport, where the only notable differences are slightly different suspensions and accessories.
The hybrid car is only available in a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine version with an electric motor. The 300h is a remarkable car
and comes equipped with plenty of standard features for its price when compared to its competitors like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes C-Class. The hybrid IS does not disappoint and represents the quality and attention to detail that Japanese cars, and Lexus especially, have become famous for.
The Lexus IS 300h drive system uses a direct-injection “Atkinson Cycle” petrol engine connected to a 230-volt synchronous electric motor and nickel metal-hydride batteries. The Atkinson cycle, first developed in 1882, is designed to provide combustion efficiency at the expense of power density. The petrol engine develops 180hp and the electric motor generates up to 140hp, with a combined output of around, a sort of disappointing, 220hp, for a sports sedan. The joined or individual output from engine and/or electric motor can drive the car, while the hybrid module of the drivetrain, which incorporates the electric motor, electric generator, power division system, and motor speed reduction, are all housed in a single transaxle casing about the size of an ordinary gearbox.
The Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which doesn’t have gears but uses infinitely adjustable pulleys, also feels somewhat less commanding than a conventional automatic transmission. However, the 300h is still quite zippy. The car does have manual shift paddles located on the steering wheel, but those too feel a bit sluggish. Besides, manual shifting seems to be a thing of the past. Gear changes, actually belt adjustments, are not noticeable when pressing down the accelerator. What’s more impressive is the quality of the drive. Even in the greenest of economy car settings, the 300h manages to retain the personality of a lively, rear-drive sedan.
The steering is very balanced and wonderfully precise with just a smidgeon of overseer. Pedal response is good, while transitions between Electric Vehicle (EV) mode and the internal combustion engine are all but undetectable. In fact, the only way to know what system is operating is to look at the power usage diagram on the main display. Lexus has done a marvelous job connecting the CVT into the 300h’s power system.
Both versions of the IS hybrid get conventional springs and dampers as standard, but F Sport Premier Pack models come with an “adaptive” damping system. This lets you switch between Normal and Sport+ modes. The 300h readily resists body roll, something Lexus is known for, and generally offers a predictably comfortable ride.
Inside, the IS 300h reflects its Japanese origin and offers only hints of European design influence. The biggest of which is a new 10.3-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with a digital driver’s display. The whole system is controlled by a touchpad that has sensory feedback. This means your commands are acknowledged with a physical sensation.
Today, most continental cars are being designed with simpler interfaces, but in an iconoclastic way, there is still a mass of buttons on the 300h dashboard. While it may appear old school, it retains function over looks. Even though the minimalist look is nice, sometimes just having an old fashioned button to switch or adjust something is better than a plethora of touch menus, screens, and options found on newer vehicles today.
The interior of the 300h is a slight let down, as it looks somewhat dated when compared to its European cousins. However, the fit and finish of the interior dash, seats and accessories are flawless. There’s a nice solid feeling about this car. The seats are super comfortable and feature electric adjustment and heightadjustable lumbar support. The doors close with a comforting thud and the upholstered areas are plush. Lexus uses durable vinyl to clad the seats in the 300h, but it looks and feels so good you’d think they were high-grade hides.
In terms of driver-assist systems, the Lexus 300h has most of what’s offered on nearly all luxury cars today. There’s automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, day and night pedestrian and dayonly cyclist detection, lane-tracing assist, road sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, and reverse automatic braking, which are just some of the main features to be found on this luxury sedan.
Getting in and out of the 300h can be tricky, as the car is slung sports car low. Awkwardness aside, this Lexus looks stunning from almost all views. Towards the back, looking forward, the IS takes on an almost Ferrari GT look with its wide flared wheel arches. Sadly, there is something really odd with the front end as it looks like a cross between Darth Vader’s visor and a Cylon warrior. It’s just a big gaping grill that would be the envy of any Great White. The grillwork also projects the 300h’s nose far forward. When parking this car, you must be aware of the amount of overhang or else you’re bound to scrape the underside of the front. Love it or hate it, and Lexus seems to love it, the front is the only visual detractor for this amazing hybrid.
As a hybrid vehicle, there are batteries and they occupy the space under the boot floor, which means there’s no spare wheel, just a tyre repair kit. The space taken up by the batteries also make for smaller available boot capacity.
While the car may hearken to days past, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If it works, why change it? The 2021 Lexus IS 300h offers a unique take on the mid sized-sedan and it offers just what people expect out of a luxury vehicle – smoothness, excellent ride quality, good looks (front exempted), and simple-to-use controls all while using energy saving hybrid technology. At $213,000, it’s about on par with its competitors, but in the final analysis this luxury Japanese sedan, it is fun to drive and well worth its price.